Pentagon claims new photos show Iran responsible for tanker attacks

The Pentagon on Monday released more photographs related to the attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman last week, claiming the images provide evidence Iran was responsible.

The new set of photos, some taken from a U.S. Navy helicopter and others close to the hull of the Japanese tanker Kokuka Courageous, appear to show Iranian naval personnel removing an unexploded limpet mine from the vessel and the markings after the mine was removed. The Pentagon says an earlier explosion on the ship was caused by a second limpet mine.

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Nothing in the photos or accompanying documents reveal evidence of the placement of the magnetic mines on the ship. But in a statement, the Pentagon claimed that "Iran is responsible for the attack based on video evidence and the resources and proficiency needed to quickly remove the unexploded limpet mine."

The Pentagon also released a timeline and map of the events last week, starting with the distress call a U.S. Navy warship received from another tanker after it came under attack and ending with the Iranian removal of the unexploded limpet mine from the Kokuka Courageous.